Tensioned stopper rod for metal pouring ladles



United States Patent lnventor Ralph Allison Canlleld, Ohio 792.020

Jan. 17, I969 Dec. 29, 1970 AFC Corporation Canfi'eld, Ohio a corporation of Ohio.

Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee TENSIONED STOPPER ROD FDR METAL POURING LADLES 4 Claims, 2 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl. 222/559 Int. Cl. 865d 47/00 Field ol'Search 222/1, 152,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1.426.136 8/l922 Wills, Jr 222/566 3,200,457 8/ l 965 Wagstaff 222/1 3,42 l .749 Ill 969 Garber et al 222/559 FOREIGN PATENTS 242,309 9/ l 965 Austria 222/563 Primary Examiner-Samuel F. Coleman Attorney-Webster B. Harpman ABSTRACT: A prestressed constantly tensioned multiple pan stopper rod including a plurality of cylindrical ceramic body members and a graphite head assembled on a flexible metal rod assembly including terminal end portions, one of which extends externally of one end of the stopper rod and engages tensioning means for holding the several parts of the stopper rod in compression. The parts of the stopper rod are replaceable.

v u \N a m BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to metal pouring devices and more particularly ladles having pouring openings controlled by stopper rods positioned downwardly through the ladle and the metal therein for selective registry with the pouring opening to control the flow of molten metal therethrough.

2. Description of the Prior Art Prior structures of this type have included several ceramic body members and a graphite head assembled on a steel core rod in a construction requiring total replacement when any part burned away or was otherwise damaged or incapable of further use. This invention eliminates discarding the major portion of a stopper rod when a small area thereof is burned away as it may be readily disassembled, the burned part replaced and the stopper rod reassembled for subsequent use. The prestressed construction and the constant tension maintained on the stopper eliminates many of the faults in the prior art structures.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A stopper for metal pouring ladles comprising a prestressed assembly of ceramic body members on a flexible tensioned core structure with means for maintaining tension onthe flexi ble corestructure while the stopper rod is in use and removable to permit individual parts of the stopper rod to be replaced when necessary. I

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is vertical section through a stopper rod with parts broken away and parts in cross section.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical section on line 2-1 of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In its simplest form the stopper rod structure of this invention is comprised of a pair of spaced end portions, one of which a head is formed of graphite and has a graphite core piece 11 threadably engaged therein and in turn threadably receiving a metal body member 12 having an eyelet 13 on its outer end. The other of the end portions is a cap 14 which is centrally apertured as at 15 to receive a secondary metal body member 16 which has an eyelet 17 on its innermost end.

A plurality of ceramic 18 having aligned axial passageways l9 therethrough are assembled one upon the other and positioned between the cap 14 and the head 10. A suitable ceramic cement 20 is positioned between the ceramic members 18. A metal rod 21 having eyelets 22 on it opposite ends is positioned in the aligned axial passageways 19 of the ceramic members 18 and the eyelets 22 engaged on the eyelets 13 and 17 respectively.

By referring now to FIG. 2 of the drawings an enlarged detail of the joint structure between the metal rod 21 and more specifically its eyelet 22 and the-eyelet 17 of the secondary metal body member 16 may be seen and it will be observed that the aligned axial passageways 19 are sufficiently large so that there is considerable clearance between the inner walls of the same and the rod 21 in the eyelets 22 and 17 respectively as well as between the walls of the passageway and the secondary metal body member 16. The spacing prevents direct conduction of heat from the ceramic members 18 and insulates the metal structures therefrom.

By referring again to FIG. 1 of the drawings, it will be seen that the upper end of the secondary metal body member 16 is threaded and a nut 23 is engaged thereon against a washer 24 which with the end cap 14 cages a coil spring 25 which is positioned about the secondary metal body member 16. The coil spring 25 provides continual tension 'on the assembly and compensate for expansion of the metal rod 21 and the metal body'members l2 and 16. Additionally, the spring 25 rovides initial assembly stress on the stopper rod when it firs formed and insures the proper seating and registry of the ceramic members 18, one upon the other and the effective sealing of the joints therebetween by the ceramic cement 20.

It will thus be seen that a composite prestressed constantly tensioned stopper rod has been disclosed which may be quickly and easily assembled from standard parts is light in weight as compared with the prior art structures and due to the flexible tensioned metal core construction retains its overall size and shape and rigidity throughout a wide temperature range as is occasioned when the stopper rod is placed in a ladle and molten metal poured therein so as to surround a substantial portion of the stopper rod. Under such operating conditions the rod is raised and lowered from its nominal engagement with the pouring opening in the ladle to control the flow of metal from the ladle as desired: The construction disclosed withstands the high temperatures and maintains its size, shape and operating ability and prevents the molten metal in the ladle from contacting or otherwise adversely affecting the metal core structure despite the expansion and contraction of the respective parts of the stopper rod.

At such time as surface disintegration of the ceramic members 18 occurs the device may be readily disassembled and the parts thereof replaced and the same rod rod reused.

Although but one embodiment of .the present invention has been illustrated and described it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modification may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the appended claims.

lclaim:

1. A prestressed and tensioned stopper rod, for metal pouring ladles and consisting of at least two ceramic having aligned axial passageways therethrough, end portions therefor, one of which is rounded outwardly, and a flexible metal axially extending tensioning structure positioned in said aligned axial passageways and engaging said outwardly rounded end portion and extending outwardly through an orifice in said other end portion, and tensioning means on said other end portion adjustably engaging said tensioning structure.

2. The stopper rod for metal pouring ladles set forth in claim 1 and wherein said ceramic members are cemented to one another and wherein said rounded end portion is formed of graphite.

3. The stopper rod set forth in claim 1 and wherein said tensioning means comprises a coil spring positioned about the outwardly extending portion of said tensioning structure and engaging said other end portion, a fastener threadably engaged on said outwardly extending portion of said tensioning structure and engaging said spring.

4. The stopper rod set forth in claim 1 and wherein the tensioning structure comprises at least one stainless steel rod having eyelets on its opposite end and a pair of metal body members one of which is threadably engaged in said rounded end portion and the other of which extends outwardly through said other end portion and both of which are eyeletted with the eyelets engaged in the eyelets of said stainless steel rod in interconnecting relation. 

